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The parasites that cause human disease represent a diverse, highly evolved and complex group of organisms. Parasitic diseases are a major cause of global pediatric morbidity and mortality, with the heaviest disease burden occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Though less common in industrialized nations, parasites represent an important class of pathogens to recognize in this setting, as both endemic and imported cases are frequently encountered in pediatric practice. Given the complexity of this category of pathogens, a framework to organize human parasites according to their major biologic classification and predominant site (intestinal vs blood/tissue) of human interaction can be useful to the learner (Table 43–1). Additionally, understanding organisms associated with potential clinical presentations of parasitic diseases can help focus the diagnostic process (Table 43–2).
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